First Marquis of Dufferin Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A monument in Portland stone and bronze to the 1st Marquis of Dufferin & Ava designed by Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas with sculpture by F W Pomeroy, erected 1906 and standing on the W side of the City Hall. The main part of the monument consists of a limestone plinth with curved projections front and back carrying inscriptions recording the areas where the Marquis worked, culminating in bronze trophies and supporting four plain columns with Ionic capitals and swags. At either side the columns support pediments broken by shields, while at front and back they support slightly higher arches with bronze enrichments. The temple is topped by a winged bronze figure standing on a bronze globe. Resplendent in breeches and sash and carrying a cocked hat, the Marquis’ bronze statue stands between the columns. The moulded base of the plinth extends round lower plinths at either side of the temple. On one side a turbanned Indian warrior with sword sits on a tiger, and on the other is a Canadian hunter in furs with snowshoes on his back sits on a moose, both in bronze and representing two regions of the globe where Lord Dufferin was particularly prominent.

Setting

This is one of a number of memorials in the grounds surrounding the City Hall (HB26/50/001A) and erected shortly after it (HB26/50/001C-001J). Many of the buildings around Donegall Square are similar in date, contributing to the context of the memorials.

Plinth and columns: Portland limestone
Statues and enrichments: Bronze

Historical information

Unveiled in 1906 (National Library of Ireland), this bronze statue commemorating the First Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, was a joint composition between the sculptor Frederick Pomeroy and the architect of the City Hall, Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas.

Contemporary photographic material from the time shows (National Library of Ireland 1906), the statue was originally located in a central position on the western side of the City Hall (HB26/50/001A). Sited within a large circular lawn with a path around the outside, the statue faced out toward Donegall Square West. The grounds were altered during the 1920s and with the addition of the Cenotaph and Garden of Remembrance (HB/26/50/001D) to the south-western edge in 1925-7; the statue of the First Marquis was moved to the western boundary of the grounds, where it has remained (Patton).

A member of the Blackwood family of Clandeboye Co. Down, Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood was the First Marquis of Dufferin and Ava and one of Britain’s most esteemed diplomats. During his illustrious career he held the positions of Governor General of Canada, Ambassador to Russia, to Turkey and Viceroy of India, before his death in 1902 (Brett, McIntosh).

One of four original statues placed within the grounds prior to the completion of the City Hall, it was originally intended to be positioned in the north west corner, aligned with the statue of Queen Victoria. However, Larmour writing in 2010 comments that “…it was clearly too grand to play that merely supporting role…” and instead it was placed in “…splendid isolation…” to the western side (Larmour).

The bronze statue and supporting figures were the work of the English sculptor, Frederick Pomeroy. The architect responsible for the City Hall, Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas, designed the Portland stone canopy at the request of Pomeroy (Larmour). A disciple of the Arts and Crafts Movement and trained in architectural carving, before moving to portraiture work, Pomeroy firmly believed in the importance of collaboration between the sculptor and the architect (McIntosh).

Pomeroy began the work in 1902 but it was not completed until 3 years later, at a cost of £5,000 (McIntosh). The memorial features the bronze statute of the Marquis, standing beneath the “…frolicsome little temple…” (Brett) designed by Thomas. Above the dome is a Bronze figure, representing Fame and beneath is a stone plinth containing two bronze figures (Larmour). These flank the foot of the statue, one represents India, of which he was Viceroy in 1884-88, and Canada, of which he was Governor General in 1872-78 (Patton).

Cleaning and repair work was carried out on the memorial in 1992-93 (HB File).

References:

Primary Sources

1. National Library of Ireland, L_ROY_02838, Photo Collection by French, Robert “Unveiling of Lord Dufferin & Ava Statue” (June 1906)
http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000324073/Holdings#tabnav
2. National Library of Ireland, L_ROY_08984, Photo Collection by French, Robert “Dufferin & Ava Statue” http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000318530
3. National Library of Ireland, L_ROY_08985, Photo Collection by French, Robert “Dufferin & Ava Statue” http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000318531
4. HB File (HB26/50/001B)

Secondary Sources

1. Larmour, P “Belfast City Hall- An Architectural History” UAHS (2010)
2. McIntosh, Gillian “Belfast City Hall One Hundred Years” Belfast City Council (2006)
3. Brett, C.E.B “ The Buildings of Belfast 1700-1914” (1985 ed)
4. Patton, Marcus “Central Belfast- An Historical Gazetteer” UAHS, Belfast (1993)
5. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online
6. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, www.oxforddnb.com/public/index.html

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity
V. Authorship

Evaluation

A Baroque tempietto in Portland stone by Sir Alfred Brumell Thomas c.1906, housing a statue by F W Pomeroy of the First Marquis of Dufferin & Ava, former Viceroy of India and Governor-General of Canada, resplendent in breeches and cocked hat and flanked by seated bronze statues of a turbanned Indian and a Canadian trapper in furs. Pomeroy was also the sculptor of the marble statues of Robert James McMordie(HB26/50/001G) in 1917 and Sir James Haslett(HB26/50/001I) in 1907-09. The whole is one of an important group of high quality memorials (HB26/50/001B-J) and this one is of particular significance having been designed by Thomas, who was also architect of the City Hall.

General comments

Formerly HB26/50/002